Big Al, I can't comment on any of the individual cases which you or your Canadian friend were dealing with, but I do think that you are a bit quick to write kids off. If they come in not being able to spell, that is usually a result of lack of parental encouragement and support, not a lack of innate ability. An attitude of "education is not for the likes of us". Kids need to rise above that and teachers need to help them to do so. Otherwise the "sink estates" which Ake rightly decries, will never get any better.